What do we call this?

[learnerAF]

What do we call this in the US and the UK?

 

[Barque]

I'd call that a slipper.

 

[learnerAF]

I'd call that a slipper.

Yes, In India we call that a slipper, but I assume in America they call that a sandal, as the guy referred to it in this video (At 15:30).

 

[Barque]

Yes, I think they do. To me sandals are footwear that have a strap or part going around the heel but that don't cover the foot as completely as shoes do. They are open-toed or have more open space around the upper.

 

[Amigos4]

In the US, a slide, also known as a slide sandal, is a backless, open-toed shoe that gets its name from being easy to slide on and off the foot. Slides have a single, wide strap that crosses the front of the foot near the toes.

 

[jutfrank]

I've never heard the word 'slides' or 'sliders' until today, though I've been wearing these things for years! I think I just call them 'sandals'.

 

[learnerAF]

In the US, a slide, also known as a slide sandal, is a backless, open-toed shoe that gets its name from being easy to slide on and off the foot. Slides have a single, wide strap that crosses the front of the foot near the toes.

Ah! I see, so, slides and flip-flops are considered one and the same in the US?

 

[Barque]

A flip-flop is different. A flip-flop has a piece of material that goes between your big toe and second toe. A slide doesn't.

 

[Amigos4]

There are several significant differences between slides and flip-flops. The main differences are explained at this link.

 

[SoothingDave]

Flip flops are cheap. You can get them at the dollar store. And they last about as long as you would expect something that cost $1 ($1.25 now, with inflation). Good for wearing to the beach on vacation, but not for serious use.

 

[Skrej]

There are higher-quality flip-flops.

I once had a pair with thick rubber(?) soles almost two inches thick, compared to the thin foam styles. They also had leather insoles, as well as leather on top of a thick reinforced toe strap. The only problem was that after wearing them a while, my bare feet polished that leather insole to the point they became slippery. In fact, they were so heavy that they didn't make much of a 'flip-flop' sound because they didn't slap against the soles of my feet. They lasted forever, but I finally had to stop wearing them because they eventually started making my feet and back ache. I had to give up comfortable footwear for things like orthopedic support as I got older....

There are also so-called "dress" flip-flops for women that are better quality and made to last.

I've never heard the term 'slides' or 'sliders' either. I'd just call the thing in the picture a 'slipper' or maybe a 'sandal'.

 

[SoothingDave]

To me, they're sandals. Slippers are for warmth and generally enclose the entire foot.

 

[emsr2d2]

Until a few years ago, I'd have called them sandals. Now I'd call them sliders, a term I hadn't heard until about 2018. Flip flops have a (very uncomfortable) toe post!

 

[probus]

In AmE I'd call that a ladies open-toe pump because it seems to have a heel back, so it's a shoe. However, my eyesight is not great and the photo is not quite clear to me.